No staff spells smeltdown

By MARK STORY

With a full order book until at least September, David Moore, CEO of steel fabricator Grayson Engineering, is turning work away. It's not that Moore doesn't want more work, he simply can't hire the steelworkers he needs to increase productivity.

"If I could add another eight people, we could boost turnover by around 10 per cent," says Moore.

When Moore ran press ads for steelworkers a few months ago, he didn't get a single response. He attributes much of the steelworker shortage to the ditching of the old apprenticeship scheme around 1990. A new scheme was re-established in 1997, but unlike the old one, it only subsidises apprentices' training, not their hiring.

Mike Sullivan, managing director with D&H Steel Construction, claims the doubling of structural steel (as a percentage of construction work) in seven years has put a huge strain on skills. It's now estimated to be a $200 million industry and employs around 3000 steel workers (60 per cent trade-based), or 30 per cent of all Kiwis employed in steel.

"With steel workers getting progressively older, and so few coming through, staff shortages will become more acute if not addressed."

Research by Paul Weaver, business development manager with industry advocate, Steel Construction Industry NZ (Sci-NZ), suggests most of the country's steel fabricating firms, which design, build, then erect structural steel on-site, need up to eight extra staff.

Staffing shortages are also mounting at the professional level. Dale Turkington, consulting engineer with Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner, says with engineering students more attracted to the glamorous side of the industry, enrolments in civil engineering have been trending down. As a result, he says the numbers of engineers versed in steel construction is in shorter supply. The recent boom in major infrastructural developments just exacerbates the shortage, adds Turkington.

What the industry suffers from, says Weaver, is a major image problem. "The steel industry is regarded as dirty, poorly paid, and lacking any kind of career path."

If Grayson's staffing shortages are any indication, the biggest demand is for fabricators, welders and detailers, who work in computer-aided design to design steel structures.

What exactly is Sci-NZ doing to boost steelworker numbers?

As well as convincing less academic school leavers to consider a career in steel, Weaver is charged with changing industry professionals' perceptions. "There's concern among engineers, architects and constructors [who decide on building materials] that steelworkers are a rag-tag of non-ticketed, unskilled individuals," says Weaver.

In an attempt to prove there's a lot more to steelwork than mud, boots and welding goggles, Sci-NZ and Tai Poutini Polytechnic will launch a five-year National Certificate in Steel Construction later this year.

It will make block courses available wherever in the country there's demand and Sci-NZ is looking for industry experts to act as in-house assessors. Weaver would like to see 1000 students working towards the national certificate in 2004. The certificate is designed to take students through every facet of steelworks - from how to handle themselves on a construction site through to rigging, fabrication and design.

As well as training new talent, Weaver hopes the certificate will create greater awareness of the career path that's open to steelworkers. He cites Moore as an example of what can be achieved through hard work. A product of the old apprenticeship system, Moore went on to complete an NZCE (trade certificate) and has since completed an MBA.

"Good welders are always in demand and can earn $15-$18 an hour. If you can secure a fabricator's job with a top firm, you can progress to any specialised field of engineering or even open your own fabrication shop."

Welding and fabrication work can be repetitive and highly confined. But one welder with Grayson Engineering says it's satisfying to see components take shape from pre-cut pieces to final form.

Dean Pouwhare, site supervisor with D&H Steel Construction, says the industry is experiencing the worst effects of a 10-year gap in formalised training.

"Up until now, we've been regarded as one step up from labourers. Having steel workers, including scaffolders and riggers, recognised as certified tradespeople, will go a long way to improving pay, conditions and attracting better quality workers," says Pouwhare, who started as a labourer with Glenbrook Steel 24 years ago.

Once regarded as the tail-end of construction, the steel industry is becoming a professional area to work in, with numerous career options.

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